Commodity research house of the year: Natixis

Natixis’s energy research team, which focuses globally on oil, gas and renewables, has become recognised as a stalwart in the data analytics and forecasting side of the market. Headed up by Abhishek Deshpande, the team is regularly consulted by government entities and some of the largest energy companies on global markets. The team helped clients make difficult decisions when oil prices collapsed, and has been advising firms on how to hedge as markets have restabilised.

Over the past 12 months the research team has extended its client base throughout the US, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Prior to the Opec-led production cuts in late 2016, Natixis published a detailed, fundamental-driven low case scenario for oil prices, predicting a return to higher prices and a more stable market in the months ahead. On the basis of that outlook, the firm advised refining clients on how to hedge crack spreads, airlines on how to hedge jet fuel consumption, utilities and logistics companies on hedging their distillates consumption and upstream producers on hedging their oil output.

The team’s flagship oil and natural gas reviews are recognised throughout the industry for their depth and unbiased fundamental analysis, and the readership has grown exponentially over the past 12 months.

Compliments have been reserved particularly for Deshpande. “Abhishek’s views in the energy market are very well respected,” says a member of the US Treasury. “He has presented his views several times to me and our team in the Treasury. His reports on US upstream markets and Annual Oil Review are thorough and extremely granular in terms of data. He was able to identify key trends and challenges in a balanced manner.”